For many people stress is just a part and parcel of everyday life, but what many people don’t know is that there are different types of stress that effect different types of personalities, so there’s no catch all cure.

Check out these five stress signs and symptoms and the recommended remedies and we guarantee sleepless nights, furrowed brows and funny nervous feelings in your tummy will be a thing of the past.

1. Stressed and wired:

Signs and Symptoms:

• Feel like you’re on constant alert
• Difficulty relaxing
• Quick to react to stressful situations
• Can’t bear an empty diary
• Feeling more and more unable to cope
• Mood swings, irritability
• Light-sound or crowd sensitive

What to do...

• Snack on celery. It helps to lower blood pressure.
• Avoid Mercury-toxic fish. This affects the adrenal glands (which produce stress hormones) and the thyroid, leading to headaches and insomnia. Avoid tuna, swordfish and marlin, and add coriander, garlic, cabbage and watercress to detoxify any mercury build-up.

2. Stressed and tired:

Signs and Symptoms:

What to do:

• Laugh! Watching or doing something that makes you happy naturally raises the anti-stress hormone DHEA. Low levels of DHEA are also associated with weight gain.
• Avoid coffee on an empty stomach. You might rely on caffeine to get you through the day but it leads to false hunger on an empty stomach and can cause energy levels to crash around mid-afternoon before keeping you awake all night.

3. Stressed and bloated:

Signs and Symptoms:

• Bloating and/or wind after eating
• Digestion or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms that get worse when you're stressed
• Food sensitivities to substances such as wheat and dairy (you may also crave these)
• Constipation or diarrhoea 
• Headaches
• Long-term use of steriod medication or antibiotics
• Diet high in sugar or refined carbohydrates

What to do: 

• Feed your gut full of healthy bacteria. You've probably heard of probiotics but prebiotics are also important and can be found in foods such as artichokes, garlic, onions, leeks and bananas.
• Pass the parsley. It helps get rid of excess water , uric acid and salt - three of the biggest factors that cause bloating. 

4. Stressed and demotivated:

Signs and Symptoms:

• Lack of get up and go
• Tendency to depression 
• Feeling less positive than before
• Craving chocolate, ice cream or other sugary foods
• Late-night bingeing or overeating
• Insomnia or waking around 3am
• Wanting to withdraw at weekends
• Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) or winter blues

What to do:

• Get moving! Sunlight and movement are essential to elevating your mood and for getting a dose of vitamin D, essential for mental health.
• Fake it. If getting daylight is difficult, invest in a SAD lamp or light box.

5. Stressed and sore:

Signs and Symptoms:

• Cravings for refined carbohydrates such as pasta, cakes or bread
• Irritable bowel syndrome and other digestive conditions
• Sudden weight fluctuations or fluid retention
• Frequent infections of the ear, nose or throat
• Skin conditions such as acne, psoriasis or eczema
• Sore joints
• Frequent cold
• Difficulty losing weight (especially around the tummy)

What to do:

• Eat brighter. Foods rich in antioxidants tend to be more vibrant in colour and can help your immune system.
• Avoid grains and beans. They contain a chemical called lectins that can cause the immune system to respond to weight gain. Stick to one serving a day.